CHAPTER 227: STUNNED [2]

"No, not really." Coco answered, a chirp in her tone as she smiled.

"You’re lying." Quizen spoke up, the disbelief clear in his voice and the expression on his face was as clear as day.

"No, I’m not." Coco responded with her eyebrows furrowing in confusion, "Why would I lie about something like this? I mean, I get that I’m good at doing work, but it was only because my mother and big sister are both hard workers."

"You doing good work is not even related to you lying about your relationship." Heiren said with a deadpan expression on his face.

"Well.. That’s right." Coco mumbled, raising a hand and scratching the back of her head.

"Anyway, there’s no point in asking me for permission to bring Zaque with you to get a permit." Heiren said, turning his head away as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, "He already decided to go with you. There’s nothing I could do about it."

Coco blinked and turned to the red haired mediator beside her, staring straight into his red eyes.

There was a certain look in his eyes, the same look that she sees in the male lead’s eyes whenever he looks at the female lead in the movies she watches, soft, warm, and tingly— the kind of look that makes her kick her feet.

No.. That can’t be. Coco thought to herself, her emerald eyes going wide slowly as she felt the weight of realization heavy in her chest when she noticed the mediator’s expression, his gaze fixed on her, his eyes soft and tender.

Coco saw the way his body leaned towards her slightly, the subtle tilt of his body not betraying his urge to be closer to her.

Coco’s expression changed, her mind suddenly connecting the dots— a sudden sense of dread forming in the pit of her stomach as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks.

She could feel the heat of his gaze all of a sudden, the intensity of his feelings as clear as day in the air between them like it was as if a switch had been flipped inside her brain, and she suddenly understood the strange behavior of the man before her.

Coco realized that the man had caught feelings with her from the moment she noticed the way he looked at her.

Coco stared at Zaque and she could see the subtle changes in his expression when she turned her attention to him, his eyes brightening up with delight and his lips curving up at the corners.

She was suddenly forced to remember the times when he would often find excuses to touch her, his hands gently brushing against hers or his fingertips brushing against her skin, or the times when he would act out as if something was stolen from him.

She remembered the times when his words would come out slightly stuttered, his usual smooth demeanor replaced by slight nervousness or the times when he appear beside her unannounced.

I should have noticed.. Coco mused in her mind because she knew that her own feelings were not the same as his, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she could not return his affection.

How long has it been? When did he start to feel this way? Coco wondered, her emotions were a complicated mix of guilt and something unexplainable, her heart tugging at both ends.

She could see the fondness in his eyes, the hope and admiration shining through his gaze, and yet she knew that she could not give him what he desired— the expectant and longing look in his gaze was too much for her to handle.

A pang of guilt flickered through her heart as she realized that she did not feel the same way, that the love that he felt for her was one-sided, her own feelings unable to match the intensity of his feelings.

She could see it in his eyes, the depth of his affection for her, and it broke her heart to know that she could not return his feelings truly.

"You’re a good guy." Coco spoke up, her voice hoarse with the heaviness of the situation.

"Hm?" The mediator felt as if he had been snapped out of a daze, his mind hazy and his thoughts unfocused, her voice cut through his thoughts, the sound of her voice bringing him back to reality.

He had been lost in his own thoughts, his gaze fixed on the black haired woman before him without realizing it.

He shook his head, his mind returning to focus as he looked at her, his expression still a little dazed, but now present in the moment.

"What’s wrong?" Zaque asked, a genuine smile settling on his face.

Coco’s heart throbbed at the sight of his dazzling smile, the sign of his growing feelings for her was waving enthusiastically in her face this whole time which made her feel even more guilty than earlier.

I’m pretty confident that I can pick up social cues. Coco thought to herself as she swallowed the lump forming in her throat.

How come I missed this one? I have never missed the signs of someone who liked me before back in my world. She rambled in her mind, looking away from the mediator’s bright smile.

She was happy that she don’t have to worry about where she would stay in the main city, but with the situation right now, she just know that she has to get away.

"I remember I have something important to do." Coco said as she stepped away from Zaque, "Whatever I said earlier about the permit, please forget it. I decided to not just bring you with me."

The mediators stood frozen as Coco’s words sunk in.

They stood there silently, unable to form words, their minds and bodies completely frozen as they tried to process what they had just heard.

"Please excuse me." Coco mumbled, rushing to the door and walked out of the house without another word.